CVE-2022-20855

Root command execution via improper process restart checks

Published Sep 30, 2022 · Updated Nov 1, 2024

Privilege escalation in Cisco IOS XE Embedded Wireless Controllers allows local users to execute commands as root through the CLI. The self-healing functionality performs improper checks while restarting certain system processes, allowing restricted-shell commands to reach the underlying access-point operating system. Exploitation requires local CLI access with valid privilege level 15 wireless-controller credentials; successful execution escapes the restricted controller shell.

CVSS severity7.9
High
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Cisco IOS XE Embedded Wireless Controllers allows local users to execute commands as root through the CLI. The self-healing functionality performs improper checks while restarting certain system processes, allowing restricted-shell commands to reach the underlying access-point operating system. Exploitation requires local CLI access with valid privilege level 15 wireless-controller credentials; successful execution escapes the restricted controller shell.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20855
Published
Sep 30, 2022
Updated
Nov 1, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco IOS XE Software
Classifications
CWE-266, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 30, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 1, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco IOS XE Softwareversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.9Cisco PSIRTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-266Incorrect Privilege Assignment
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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